JP2005252941A - Area management server, mobile communication terminal, content distribution method, and content distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an area management server, a mobile communication terminal, a content distribution method, and a content distribution system which raise flexibility of area definition in a content distribution service according to areas, and realize various content distribution services. <P>SOLUTION: An area management server 2 stores area definition files, classification information, and content information corresponding each other. A mobil communication terminal 1 receives a corresponding area definition file if the area management server 2 receives acquiring request data of the area definition file. When the mobile communication terminal 1 is in the defined area of the received area definition file, it sends a content acquiring request corresponding to the area to the area management server 2, and acquires the content information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an area management server, a portable communication terminal, a content distribution method, and a content distribution system for distributing content according to an area.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a service for providing content to a user of a portable communication terminal is performed according to the position information of the portable communication terminal. Examples of such conventional content distribution service technologies include the following. That is, every time the portable communication terminal acquires position information, the position information is transmitted to the system on the network in real time using the wireless communication line. Then, in the system on the network, content search processing corresponding to the location information is performed each time, and content and information corresponding to the current location of the portable communication terminal are provided.

In such a conventional technique, as the number of users increases, the resources of the wireless communication line and the system tend to be occupied. In addition, since the portable communication terminal transmits the position information every time the position information is acquired, the number of communication increases, and the burden of the wireless communication cost of the user tends to increase.
In order to solve such a problem, a technique has been proposed in which a user obtains content corresponding to an area with a small number of communications (for example, Patent Document 1). According to the technical content disclosed in Patent Document 1, the portable communication terminal associates, in advance, content identification information that can be used when located in a certain cell with identification information of a certain cell. Download the location table to your terminal and store it. Then, the portable communication terminal determines whether or not the own terminal is located in the cell of the stored location table. As a result, when it is determined that the own terminal is located in the cell, the portable communication terminal downloads the actual content based on the content identification information associated with the cell identification information.

If such a technique described in Patent Document 1 is used, the portable communication terminal performs the determination process in its own terminal, so that it is not necessary for the portable communication terminal to sequentially transmit the position information of the own terminal to the server. Therefore, the occupation of the wireless communication line and the burden of the wireless communication cost can be suppressed.
However, the conventional content distribution service according to the area has not been devised in the area definition method. For example, in the past, a specific business operator defined an area by dividing the map plane into a mesh shape so as to cover the whole country or a certain area, and provided it to the service provider (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-47034 A (paragraphs 0037 to 0041) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-121171 (paragraph 0017, FIG. 2)

For this reason, service providers have no choice but to associate content to be delivered with the uniform area definition provided by a specific operator, and define their own areas according to the type and purpose of the content to be provided. I couldn't. Therefore, the service provider cannot provide a flexible service according to the area.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an area management server that increases the degree of freedom of area definition and realizes various content distribution services in content distribution services according to areas. It is to provide a portable communication terminal, a content distribution method, and a content distribution system.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an invention according to claim 1 is an area definition file that includes a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined in an area management server that provides content according to an area. Provided to the portable communication terminal located in the area defined by the area information in association with each area information included in the area definition file stored in the area definition unit Area-corresponding content storage means for storing content information to be stored, and area definition acquisition means for acquiring a corresponding area definition file from the area definition means when receiving the area definition file acquisition request data from a portable communication terminal And the area definition file acquired by the area definition file acquisition means as the portable communication Area definition transmitting means for transmitting at the end, and when the portable communication terminal is located in an area defined by area information included in the area definition file transmitted by the area definition transmitting means, the area corresponding content There is provided an area management server comprising content distribution means for distributing content information corresponding to the area acquired from a storage means to the portable communication terminal.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the area management server stores the area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined, so that the service provider that provides the content distribution service Can define areas of various shapes and sizes, and register the defined areas as area information in the area management server. For this reason, the freedom degree of the area definition of a service provider increases, and the content according to an area can be delivered to a portable communication terminal effectively. Thereby, various content distribution services with a high degree of freedom can be realized. In addition, since the area definition file includes a plurality of pieces of area information, operations such as management and download of the area definition file can be easily performed. Further, the number of area information included in the area definition file can be adjusted according to the storage capacity of the portable communication terminal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the area management server according to the first aspect, the area information includes information indicating a shape of the area, a size of the area, and a position of the area on the earth. Features.
According to the invention described in claim 2, the area management server defines areas based on various shapes, sizes, and positions, not as uniform meshes and cells as in the past. Therefore, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of service provider area definition and realize various content distribution services.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the area management server according to the second aspect, the shape of the area is at least one of a circle, a triangle, a quadrangle, an ellipse, a wedge, and a polygon. It is characterized by being.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the area management server can define various area shapes, thereby increasing the degree of freedom of service provider area definition and realizing various content distribution services. Can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the area management server according to any one of the first to third aspects, the area definition file is associated with classification information representing a classification of the area definition file, The acquisition request data received from the portable communication terminal includes the classification information, and the area definition acquisition unit uses the area definition file associated with the classification information included in the acquisition request data as the area definition. It is obtained by means.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the area definition file is associated with the classification information indicating the classification of the area definition file, the user of the portable communication terminal can classify the area definition file. The area definition file can be requested accordingly. For example, by classifying the area definition file according to the purpose and content provider, the user can freely define the area definition file according to the classification. And can be downloaded to the portable communication terminal, so that the user can receive a content distribution service according to the purpose and application.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the area management server according to the fourth aspect, the classification information includes information indicating the purpose of using the content associated with the area definition file, and the area definition file. Information representing a service provider to be provided, information representing a facility name associated with the area defined in the area definition file, information representing a region name including the area defined in the area definition file, and the area It includes at least one of information representing a group to which a user who uses the content associated with the definition file belongs.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the area management server can associate various classifications with the area definition file, the service provider can create area definition files with various classifications. Since the user can freely select and download the area definition file to the portable communication terminal according to these classifications, various services can be provided.

The invention according to claim 6 is an area definition for downloading an area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined in a portable communication terminal receiving a content distribution service according to the area. Included in the receiving means, the used area definition selecting means for selecting the area definition file to be used among the area definition files downloaded by the area definition receiving means, and the area definition file selected by the used area definition selecting means. Content reception for receiving corresponding content information by transmitting content acquisition request data corresponding to the area information included in the area definition file when the terminal is located in the area defined by the area information A portable communication terminal characterized by comprising: To.
According to the invention described in claim 6, since the portable communication terminal can download various area definition files and can select an area definition file to be used from among the downloaded area definition files. The degree of freedom for selecting the area definition file to be used by the user is increased.

The invention according to claim 7 is the portable communication terminal according to claim 6, in which the manual mode for downloading the area definition file in response to an input from the outside, and the change in the position information of the own terminal, The apparatus further comprises mode selection means for selecting at least one of an automatic mode for downloading an area definition file in which an area including the position information is defined.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the portable communication terminal includes the mode selection means, the user can select either the manual mode or the automatic mode, or both modes, and The area definition file can be freely downloaded to the type communication terminal.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution method for distributing content according to the area where the portable communication terminal is located, the area management server includes area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined. An area definition step of storing a plurality of area definition files, classification information representing a classification of the area definition file, and content information to be distributed to portable communication terminals located in each of the areas, When the area management server receives the acquisition request data for the area definition file associated with the classification information from the portable communication terminal, from among the plurality of area definition files stored in the area definition step The acquired area definition file associated with the classification information is transmitted to the portable communication terminal. Rear definition file transmission step, and when the portable communication terminal is located in an area defined by area information included in the area definition file transmitted in the area definition file transmission step, the area definition file A content acquisition request transmission step for transmitting content acquisition request data corresponding to the area information included in the content information, and when the area management server receives the content acquisition request data transmitted in the content acquisition request transmission step. A content distribution method comprising: a content distribution step of distributing corresponding content information acquired from information related to a plurality of contents stored in the area definition step to the portable communication terminal.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution system for distributing content according to the area where the portable communication terminal is located, the area management server is configured to include area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined. An area definition means for storing a plurality of area definition files, classification information representing a classification of the area definition file, and content information to be distributed to portable communication terminals located in each of the areas, The classification information acquired from the area definition file stored by the area definition means when the acquisition request data of the area definition file associated with the classification information is received from the portable communication terminal; Area definition transmitting means for transmitting the associated area definition file to the portable communication terminal, and the area definition When content acquisition request data corresponding to the area information included in the area definition file is received from a portable communication terminal located in the area defined by the area information included in the area definition file transmitted by the communication means Content distribution means for distributing the corresponding content information acquired from the plurality of content information stored by the area definition means to the portable communication terminal, the portable communication terminal including the classification information and When the local terminal is located in the area defined by the area information included in the area definition file received by the area definition receiving means and the area definition receiving means for downloading the associated area definition file, Content acquisition request data corresponding to the area information included in the area definition file By sending a provide a content distribution system characterized by comprising a content receiving unit that receives the corresponding content information.

  According to the inventions described in claims 8 and 9, the area management server stores area definition files of various shapes and sizes in association with the classification information, and the portable communication terminal uses the area information according to the classification information. Since the definition file can be downloaded and content distribution according to the area definition file can be received, the degree of freedom of area definition can be increased and various content distribution services can be realized.

  According to the present invention, since the area management server stores an area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined, a service provider who provides a content distribution service has various shapes. An area of a size can be defined, and the defined area can be registered in the area management server as area information. For this reason, the service provider can freely define the area, and can effectively distribute the content corresponding to the area to the portable communication terminal. Thereby, various content distribution services with a high degree of freedom can be realized.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing referred to in the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in the other drawings.
In the following, the portable communication terminal 1 has information (area definition file) related to the nearby area where the terminal 1 exists, and compares the position information acquired at an arbitrary timing with the area information in the area definition file. An embodiment of a system capable of obtaining content information provided by a content provider from the area management server and content from the content server will be described. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms within the scope of the claims.

[1. Constitution]
[1.1. overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the content distribution system includes a portable communication terminal 1 that can acquire location information of the terminal 1 and that can transmit and receive digital data using a wireless communication network and display the digital data. An area management server 2 that defines an area having a certain spatial spread based on position information, a content provider database 3 that manages content information provided by a plurality of content providers, and provides actual content to users And a content server 4. The portable communication terminal 1, the area management server 2, and the content server 4 are connected to each other. The content provider database 3 is connected to the area management server 2.

[1.2. Area management server]
Next, the configuration of the area management server 2 will be described. The area management server 2 is, for example, a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and has a general computer hardware configuration. Specifically, the area management server 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a storage unit including a hard disk, and a communication interface.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the area management server 2. As shown in the figure, the area management server 2 includes a communication unit 21, an area definition unit 22, an area management server control unit 23, a display unit 24, an input unit 25, and a content provider DB 3.
The area definition unit 22 includes a hard disk and an area definition file stored in the hard disk. The area definition file includes a plurality of pieces of area information in which specific areas having a spatial size centered on position information are defined. Here, the position information is a latitude and longitude (hereinafter referred to as “latitude / longitude”) obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System), a base station of a wireless communication network, an installation location of a wireless tag, or the like.
Here, the “area” according to the present invention can be defined by being classified into various purposes and types of services. An “area” can be defined in various shapes and sizes.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the definition of a circular area. For example, a circular area with a small area indicated by 1 to 6 is defined in order that a certain service provider distributes content for sightseeing in each narrow area. Moreover, the circular area with a large area shown by AC is defined in order to provide the content for disaster prevention for every wide area, for example, a fire department. Here, as elements for specifying such a circular area, the latitude / longitude and radius of the center point of the circle are used as shown in FIG.

  Although the definition of the circular area has been described above, areas on the earth having various shapes and sizes including squares and diamonds are defined by area information shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the area information includes information indicating a “position” indicating a position on the earth where the area exists, a “shape” of the area, and a “size” of the area. “Position” is indicated by the latitude and longitude of the center of the area. The “shape” and “size” of the defined area include, for example, a circular area with a radius rm, a rectangular area with a long side am and a short side bm, an elliptical area with a long diameter xm and a short diameter ym, 1 side Any shape and size can be specified, such as an equilateral triangle area of 1 m.

  The area definition unit 22 stores the area information in association with an area ID for identifying the area information. Then, the area definition unit 22 manages a plurality of pieces of area information defining specific peripheral areas as one area definition file by associating it with the area definition file ID. For this reason, one area definition file includes a plurality of pieces of area information. As described above, by including a plurality of pieces of area information in the area definition file, the area definition file can be easily classified and managed for each creator, for each area, or the like.

  These area definition files are registered in the area definition unit 22 in response to a registration request from a service provider server or the like. Here, since the service provider assigns the area ID uniquely, there is a possibility that the same area ID may be assigned by different service providers. For this reason, one area information is uniquely identified by the area definition file ID and the area ID.

  The area definition unit 22 stores each area definition file in association with classification information representing the classification of the area definition file. As an example of the classification information, there are “purpose”, “group”, “region name”, “service provider name”, and “facility name” as shown in FIG. Such classification information is used when an area definition file suitable for the user's purpose is downloaded to the portable communication terminal 1.

Returning to FIG. 2, the content provider DB 3 is a database provided in the hard disk. The content provider DB 3 stores information related to the content provider and various information related to the content.
The content provider DB 3 is particularly provided with an area corresponding content storage area 31. As shown in FIG. 6, the area-corresponding content storage area 31 is a distribution target when the portable communication terminal 1 is located in the area corresponding to the area ID and the area ID and the area ID. One or more pieces of content information are stored. The content information here is information configured to include information for explaining the contents of the content and link information for accessing the content server 4 that provides the content. The content information may be actual content.

  Next, the communication unit 21 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a communication interface, and transmits and receives various data to and from the portable communication terminal 1 via a network. The communication unit 21 particularly includes an area definition transmission function 211 and a content distribution function 212. When the area definition transmission function 211 receives area definition acquisition request data for requesting acquisition of an area definition file from the portable communication terminal 1, it returns the corresponding area definition file to the portable communication terminal 1. When the content distribution function 212 receives content acquisition request data for requesting acquisition of content from the portable communication terminal 1, it returns the corresponding content information to the portable communication terminal 1.

The server control unit 23 includes a CPU and a program stored in the hard disk. Various functions of the server control unit 23 are realized by the CPU executing programs stored in the hard disk.
In particular, the server control unit 23 includes an area definition acquisition function 231. When the area definition acquisition function 231 receives area definition acquisition request data from the portable communication terminal 1, the area definition acquisition function 231 acquires the corresponding area definition file from the area definition unit 22.
Here, the area definition acquisition request data includes at least one of position information of the portable communication terminal 1, classification information of the area definition file, and area definition file ID.

  When the location information of the portable communication terminal 1 is included in the area definition acquisition request data, the area definition acquisition function 231 acquires the corresponding area definition file from the area definition unit 22 based on the location information. Specifically, the area definition acquisition function 231 searches and acquires an area definition file in which an area including position information is defined from the area definition unit 22.

  On the other hand, when the classification information is included in the area definition acquisition request data, the area definition acquisition function 231 acquires the corresponding area definition file from the area definition unit 22 based on the classification information. Specifically, the area definition acquisition function 231 searches the area definition unit 22 for the same classification information as the classification information included in the area definition acquisition request data, and selects an area definition file associated with the same classification information. get.

  On the other hand, when the area definition acquisition request data includes an area definition file ID, the area definition acquisition function 231 acquires the corresponding area definition file from the area definition unit 22 based on the area definition file ID. Specifically, the area definition acquisition function 231 searches the area definition unit 22 for the same area definition file ID as the area definition file ID included in the area definition acquisition request data, and is identified by the same area definition file ID. Get the area definition file.

As described above, when the area definition acquisition function 231 acquires the corresponding area definition file, the area management server control unit 23 uses the area definition transmission function 211 of the communication unit 21 to acquire the acquired area definition file. The area definition acquisition request data is transmitted to the portable communication terminal 1 that is the transmission source.
If the area definition acquisition function 231 acquires a plurality of area definition files as a result of searching the area definition unit 22 based on the classification information and the position information, the area management server control unit 23 displays the list information of the area definition files. And the list generated by the area definition transmission function 211 may be transmitted. Then, the user of the portable communication terminal 1 may be allowed to select an area definition file desired to be downloaded from the list of area definition files.

  Further, when the communication unit 21 receives the content acquisition request data including the area definition file ID and the area ID from the portable communication terminal 1, the server control unit 23 is associated with the area definition file ID and the area ID. Content information is searched from the content provider DB 3. When the corresponding content information exists in the content provider DB 3, the server control unit 23 transmits the corresponding content information from the content distribution function 212 of the communication unit 21 to the portable communication terminal 1.

[1.3. Portable communication terminal]
Next, the configuration of the portable communication terminal 1 will be described. The portable communication terminal 1 has a hardware configuration of a general mobile communication terminal. That is, the portable communication terminal 1 includes a CPU that controls the whole, a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory that store various software, a wireless communication interface that performs wireless communication, a display that displays various screens, and a command corresponding to an operation. It is comprised including the input key which gives.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the portable communication terminal 1. As shown in the figure, the portable communication terminal 1 includes a position information receiving unit 11, a communication unit 12, a terminal control unit 13, a display unit 14, an input unit 15, and a storage unit 16.
The storage unit 16 includes a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory, and stores various programs and data. The data stored in the storage unit 16 includes area definition file, content information, mode information indicating the setting values of the automatic mode and manual mode, which are modes for acquiring the area definition file, and the data downloaded to the terminal 1 itself. Selection information indicating which area definition file to use is included.

  Here, the mode information includes information indicating whether each of the automatic mode information and the manual mode information is set to ON or OFF. The user can set whether to turn on or off each of the automatic mode information and the manual mode information by operating the input key of the portable communication terminal 1 and inputting predetermined information. When the automatic mode information is set to ON, the area definition file is automatically downloaded to the portable communication terminal 1 as the portable communication terminal 1 moves (changes in position). When the manual mode information is set to ON, the user operates the input key of the portable communication terminal 1, inputs the classification information of the desired area definition file, and issues a download instruction. Can be downloaded to the portable communication terminal 1. Note that both automatic mode information and manual mode information can be turned on or off.

The program stored in the storage unit 16 includes a program for setting the mode information and selection information, a program for executing processing with reference to the set information, an area definition file, and content. A program for downloading information is included.
The position information receiving unit 11 acquires position information from the latitude / longitude of the GPS, the base station of the wireless communication network, the installation location of the wireless tag, and the like. The acquired position information is processed by the terminal control unit 13 and transmitted from the communication unit 12 to the area management server 2.

The terminal control unit 13 includes a CPU and a program stored in a nonvolatile memory. Various functions of the terminal control unit 13 are realized by the CPU of the portable communication terminal 1 executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory. In particular, the terminal control unit 13 includes a use area definition selection function 131 and a mode selection function 132.
The use area definition selection function 131 sets a use target from a plurality of area definition files stored in the storage unit 16 when detecting that the user has input an area definition file to be used from the input unit 15. Specify the area definition file. Then, the used area definition selection function 131 stores the area definition file ID of the identified area definition file and the classification information associated with the area definition file in the storage unit 16. The classification information can also be input from the input unit 15 by the user.

The mode selection function 132 stores user input information as mode information in the storage unit 16 when it is detected that the user has performed setting input of the automatic mode or the manual mode from the input unit 15.
Further, when the position information receiving unit 11 acquires the position information, the terminal control unit 13 performs a comparison process between the area defined in the area definition file to be used and the acquired position information. If the acquired position information is within the defined area, the terminal control unit 13 sends the content acquisition request data including the ID of the area definition file to be used and the area ID to the content acquisition request transmission function of the communication unit 12. From 122, the data is transmitted to the area management server 2.

  On the other hand, if the acquired position information is not included in the area defined in the area definition file to be used, the terminal control unit 13 uses the mode information stored in the storage unit 16 to acquire the area definition file acquisition mode. Check how is set. If the automatic mode is set to ON as a result of the confirmation, the terminal control unit 13 communicates area definition acquisition request data including the acquired position information and classification information corresponding to the area definition file to be used. The data is transmitted from the unit 12 to the area management server 2. On the other hand, when the automatic mode is set to OFF and the manual mode is set to ON, the area definition file is downloaded from the area management server 2 by the user's instruction input. Until there is, the terminal control unit 13 does nothing.

The communication unit 12 includes a wireless communication interface and controls transmission / reception of various data via the wireless communication network. The communication unit 12 particularly includes an area definition reception function 121, a content acquisition request transmission function 122, and a content reception function 123. The area definition reception function 121 receives an area definition file from the area management server 2.
When the location information of the portable communication terminal 1 is within the area defined by the area information included in the area definition file to be used, the content acquisition request transmission function 122 displays the area ID and area of the area information. The content acquisition request data including the definition file ID is transmitted to the area management server 2.

The content reception function 123 receives the content information requested by the content acquisition request transmission function 122.
The display unit 14 includes a display. The display unit 14 displays various screens for the user to make inquiries and input. For example, the display unit 14 selects a mode setting screen, a screen for selecting an area definition file to be used, a screen for designating an area definition file by specifying a classification, and content information by selecting content information. Displays a screen for requesting acquisition.
The input unit 15 includes an input key. The input unit 15 transmits various information and commands corresponding to the operation of the user's input keys to the terminal control unit 13.

[1.4. Content server]
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the content server 4. The content server 4 includes a WWW server 41, a content server control unit 42, a display unit 43, an input unit 44, and content 45.
When the WWW server 41 receives a content display request including the area definition file ID and the area ID from the portable communication terminal 1, the content server control unit 42 searches the content 45 for content. If there is a corresponding content, the WWW server 41 returns the content to the portable communication terminal 1.

[2. Operation]
Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described. As a premise, the data shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the area definition unit 22 of the area management server 2, and the data shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the area corresponding content storage area 31.

[2.1. Automatic reception of area definition file]
In FIG. 9, from the location information acquisition to the area definition file reception in the portable communication terminal 1 when the area definition file acquisition mode is set to the automatic mode (the automatic mode is set to ON). A flowchart is shown.
Here, in advance, the user operates the input unit 15 to input the automatic mode on and the manual mode off. Therefore, the mode selection function 132 is assumed to store the input information as mode information in the storage unit 16. Further, in advance, the user operates the input unit 15 to input the ID “Fire Tokyo” of the area definition file to be used among the area definition files stored in the storage unit 16, and further, the area definition file The classification information “purpose = for fire fighting” is entered. Therefore, it is assumed that the use area definition selection function 131 stores these input information as selection information in the storage unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 9, in step S11, the location information receiving unit 11 of the portable communication terminal 1 waits for acquisition of location information obtained from the latitude / longitude of GPS, the base station of the wireless communication network, the location of the wireless tag, or the like. It is.
In step S12, the position information receiving unit 11 of the portable communication terminal 1 is in a state where the position information has been acquired.
In step S13, whether or not the position information acquired in step S12 is within the area defined by the area information stored in the storage unit 16 and included in the area definition file to be used. Judgment processing is performed. As a result, if the acquired position information is within the defined area range (step S13; in the area definition file), it is not necessary to acquire the area definition file, so that the position information acquisition waiting state in step S11 is entered. Return.

On the other hand, when the acquired position information is outside the range of the defined area (step S13; outside the area definition file), the portable communication terminal 1 stores the acquired position information and the storage unit 16 in step S14. The area definition acquisition request data including the classification information “purpose = for fire fighting” of the area definition file to be used is transmitted to the area management server 2.
The communication unit 21 of the area management server 2 receives area definition acquisition request data from the portable communication terminal 1.

In step S15, the area definition acquisition function 231 of the area management server 2 creates an area definition file in which the classification information is “purpose = for fire fighting” and the area information including the received position information in the range is defined. Processing for determining whether or not the area definition unit 22 exists is performed.
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the area definition file identified by the area definition file IDs “fire department Tokyo” and “fire department Shinjuku” has the same classification information as the requested classification information “purpose = for fire department”. Therefore, the area definition acquisition function 231 determines whether or not the received position information is included in the area defined by the area information included in these area definition files.

If the corresponding area definition file does not exist as a result of the determination process as described above (step S15; none), the area management server 2 transmits a message to that effect to the portable communication terminal 1, and the portable communication terminal 1 Returns to the position information acquisition waiting state in step S11.
On the other hand, when the area definition file related to the received position information and classification information exists in the area definition unit 22 (step S15; present), the area definition transmission function 211 of the area management server 2 corresponds in step S16. The area definition file is transmitted to the portable communication terminal 1.

  Here, for example, when the user of the portable communication terminal 1 is located around the west exit of Shinjuku Station, the position information transmitted from the portable communication terminal 1 is the area ID of the area definition file ID “fire fighting Shinjuku”. It is included in the area defined by the area information corresponding to “501”. For this reason, the area definition file identified by the area definition file ID “Fire department Shinjuku” is the corresponding area definition file here.

In step S <b> 17, the area definition reception function 121 of the portable communication terminal 1 receives an area definition file from the area management server 2. The terminal control unit 13 stores the area definition file in the storage unit 16.
As described above, the portable communication terminal 1 can automatically download the area definition file corresponding to the purpose of fire fighting by moving the area. The classification information that can be selected by the user using the use area definition selection function 131 is not limited to the purpose, and for example, a group (“group = firefighter”) can be selected.

[2.2. Manual reception of area definition file]
Next, an operation when the user of the portable communication terminal 1 manually receives the area definition file in accordance with the purpose of using the content will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the user operates the input unit 15 in advance to perform an input for turning off the automatic mode and turning on the manual mode. Therefore, the mode selection function 132 is assumed to store the input information as mode information in the storage unit 16.
First, the user operates the input unit 15 of the portable communication terminal 1 to establish a session with the area management server 2 and displays a screen for manually downloading the area definition file on the display unit 14.

In step S21, the portable communication terminal 1 is in a state of waiting for input of classification information by the user. The user operates the input unit 15 to input, for example, “purpose = firefighting” and “region = Shinjuku” as classification information of the area definition file desired to be used.
In step S <b> 22, the portable communication terminal 1 transmits area definition acquisition request data including the input classification information to the area management server 2.

The communication unit 21 of the area management server 2 receives area definition acquisition request data.
In step S23, the area management server control unit 23 of the area management server 2 determines the area definition associated with the classification information (“purpose = firefighting” and “region = Shinjuku”) included in the received area definition acquisition request data. Processing to determine whether the file exists.
As a result of the determination process, when there is no area definition file associated with the classification information (step S23; none), the process returns to step S21.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, there is an area definition file identified by the area definition file ID “fire department Shinjuku” associated with “purpose = fire department” and “area = Shinjuku” (step S23; ). For this reason, in step S24, the area definition transmission function 211 of the communication unit 21 transmits the area definition file identified by the corresponding area definition file ID “fire department Shinjuku” to the portable communication terminal 1.

In step S25, the area definition receiving function 121 of the portable communication terminal 1 receives the area definition file. The terminal control unit 13 stores the received area definition file in the storage unit 16.
Thus, the user can download the desired area definition file to the portable communication terminal 1 by freely specifying the classification information in accordance with the purpose and the use area.

[2.3. Content reception]
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart from position information acquisition to content reception in the portable communication terminal 1. An operation in which the portable communication terminal 1 receives content corresponding to an area will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the area definition file stored in the storage unit 16 of the portable communication terminal 1 is only the area definition file identified by the area definition file ID “fire department Shinjuku”.
In step S31, the position information receiving unit 11 of the portable communication terminal 1 is waiting to acquire position information obtained from the latitude / longitude of GPS, the base station of the wireless communication network, the location of the wireless tag, and the like.

In step S32, the position information receiving unit 11 of the portable communication terminal 1 is in a state where the position information has been acquired.
In step S <b> 33, the terminal control unit 13 performs a determination process as to whether or not the acquired position information is within the area defined by the area definition file stored in the storage unit 16. As a result, if the acquired position information is outside the defined area (step S33; outside the specific area), the process returns to the position information acquisition waiting state in step S31.

  When the position information acquired in step S33 is included in the area in front of Shinjuku Station West Exit corresponding to the area ID “501” of the area definition file ID “fire department Shinjuku”, for example (step S33; in a specific area) In step S34, the terminal control unit 13 converts the position information into an area ID. Here, since the acquired position information is included in the area corresponding to the area ID “501” of the area definition file stored in the storage unit 16, the terminal control unit 13 displays the acquired position information in the area. It is converted to ID “501”.

In step S <b> 35, the content acquisition request transmission function 122 of the portable communication terminal 1 transmits content acquisition request data including the area definition file ID “Fire Shinjuku” and the area ID “501” to the area management server 2.
The communication unit 21 of the area management server 2 receives the content acquisition request data. The area management server control unit 23 searches the content information associated with the area definition file ID “Fire Shinjuku” and the area ID “501” from the area corresponding content storage area 31 of the content provider DB 3.

If there is no corresponding content information as a result of the search in step S35 (step S36; none), the area management server 2 notifies the mobile communication terminal 1 to that effect, and the mobile communication terminal 1 acquires the location information in step S31. Return to the waiting state.
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, there is content information “position of fire hydrant in front of station west exit” as content information associated with area definition file ID “Fire Shinjuku” and area ID “501” (step S36). ;)

For this reason, in step S <b> 37, the content distribution function 212 of the area management server 2 transmits the corresponding content information to the portable communication terminal 1.
In step S <b> 38, the portable communication terminal 1 displays the received content information on the display unit 14.
The user operates the input unit 15 to confirm the displayed content information, and then issues a content acquisition instruction. Thereby, the portable communication terminal 1 makes an acquisition request for the content associated with the area definition file ID “Fire Shinjuku” and the area ID “501” to the content server 4 operated by the fire department.

Upon receiving the content acquisition request, the content server 4 acquires the corresponding content from the content 45 and transmits it to the portable communication terminal 1.
In step S <b> 39, the communication unit 12 of the portable communication terminal 1 receives the corresponding content from the content server 4. The terminal control unit 13 of the portable communication terminal 1 stores the content in the storage unit 16 and displays the content on the display unit 14.

  As described above, in the present invention, since the service provider can define areas of various shapes and sizes and register them in the area management server 2, the service provider can freely define the areas. . Further, the user can freely download the area definition file defined by the service provider to the mobile terminal by selecting the acquisition mode and the classification information. For this reason, the service provider can effectively distribute the content desired to be provided to the user to the portable communication terminal 1, and the user only needs to move while holding the portable communication terminal 1 and is suitable for the area. You can receive the kind of content you want. Thereby, various and highly convenient content distribution services can be realized.

  In the above-described operation example, the example in which the firefighter uses the content distribution service for fire fighting is described as an example. However, the user downloads the area definition file corresponding to the area according to various purposes, and the content Can be used. For example, a couple in Yumenokuni Land in Chiba Prefecture can download and use the area definition file created by Toyo Land Co., Ltd. to the portable communication terminal 1 to obtain content for each area in Yumenokuni Land. . Further, when the user approaches Tokyo Station on the way home, the area definition file around Tokyo Station created by XX Railway East Japan can be downloaded to the portable communication terminal 1 to receive event information around Tokyo Station.

  Also, even people who are located in the same area can download the area definition file to the portable communication terminal 1 according to their purpose and application. For example, an office worker around Tokyo Station downloads and uses an area definition file created by Gurumesha to the portable communication terminal 1, and a firefighter group creates an area definition file for fire protection created by the fire department. Are downloaded to the portable communication terminal 1 and used, and a person visiting from a local area downloads the area definition file created by Tokyo to the portable communication terminal 1 and uses it.

In this way, by increasing the degree of freedom in defining the area definition file, the content distribution service can be changed by changing the area definition file to be used according to the purpose, group, facility, area size, etc. Therefore, the degree of freedom of service can be improved.
In addition, the portable communication terminal 1 compares the position information of the own terminal 1 and the area definition file corresponding to the position information in the own terminal 1, thereby suppressing the radio communication line and system resource occupation for position search. Therefore, the user can obtain the optimum content according to the location with less terminal operation and less communication cost.

[3. Modified example]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea. As modifications, for example, the following can be considered.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the content server 4 provides only actual content, the area management server 2 provides content information, and manages the area definition files of all service providers. It is not limited to this. For example, the content server 4 owned by each service provider may manage the content information and the area definition file of each service provider.

(2) In the automatic reception of [2.1] described above, when the user makes a selection input from the input unit 15 in advance, the use area definition selection function 131 displays “purpose” as the classification information of the area definition file to be used. Although the description has been made assuming that “for fire fighting” is selected, there may be a mode in which classification information is not designated. In this case, all of the area definition files stored in the area definition unit 22 include those in which the location information of the portable communication terminal 1 is included in the area defined by the area definition file. Will be downloaded to the type communication terminal 1.

(3) In the above-described manual reception of [2.2], the portable communication terminal 1 transmits the area definition acquisition request data including only the classification information, but is not limited thereto. For example, area definition acquisition request data including location information of the portable communication terminal 1 and classification information desired by the user may be transmitted.
(4) In the above-described manual reception of [2.2], when there are a plurality of area definition files corresponding to the requested classification information, the description information (hereinafter referred to as “area definition file information”) regarding the corresponding area definition file. ”) And a user may select an area definition file to be downloaded.

  In this case, the processing after step S24 in FIG. 10 is as follows. In step S <b> 24, the area definition transmission function 211 of the area management server 2 generates a list of corresponding area definition file information and transmits it to the portable communication terminal 1. The display unit 14 of the portable communication terminal 1 displays a list of received area definition file information. The user operates the input unit 15 to select area definition file information desired to be downloaded. The terminal control unit 13 of the portable communication terminal 1 generates area definition acquisition request data including an area definition file ID corresponding to the selected area definition file information, and transmits the area definition acquisition request data to the area management server 2.

The area definition acquisition function 231 of the area management server 2 acquires the area definition file associated with the area definition file ID included in the received area definition acquisition request data from the area definition unit 22. The area management server control unit 23 transmits the area definition file acquired by the area definition transmission function 211.
The area definition reception function 121 of the portable communication terminal 1 receives the area definition file and passes it to the terminal control unit 13. The terminal control unit 13 stores the area definition file in the storage unit 16 (step S25).

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the area information is described as being defined by latitude / longitude, shape, and size. However, information that defines an area is not limited to this. For example, the area information can include not only the latitude and longitude but also the height. In the case of a polygon, the latitude and longitude of each vertex can be included in the area information. Further, the shape of the area is not limited to that shown in the above-described embodiment, and may be, for example, a shape combining a triangle and a quadrangle.

(6) The type of classification information for classifying the area definition file in the above-described embodiment is merely an example. For example, the area definition file may be classified according to the age of the content usage target person.
(7) In the above-described embodiment, the portable communication terminal 1 has been described as a general mobile phone. However, any communication terminal that can acquire position information may be used. For example, PHS (Personal Handyphone System) )

  It can be used in the field of content distribution services according to various area definitions and various purposes and uses.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content delivery system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the area management server which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the area definition which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the element which specifies the area which concerns on the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the area definition file memorize | stored in the area definition part which concerns on the embodiment, and the classification information matched with the area definition file. It is a figure which shows an example of the content information matched with the area definition file ID memorize | stored in the area corresponding | compatible content storage area which concerns on the embodiment, and area ID. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the portable communication terminal which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the content server which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart from the positional information acquisition in a portable communication terminal to area definition file reception, when the acquisition mode of the area definition file which concerns on the embodiment is set to the automatic mode. It is a figure which shows the flowchart from a user's classification | category information input in a portable communication terminal to area definition file reception, when the acquisition mode of the area definition file which concerns on the embodiment is set to manual mode. It is a figure which shows the flowchart from the positional information acquisition in the portable communication terminal which concerns on the embodiment to content reception.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable communication terminal 11 Location information reception part 12 Communication part 121 Area definition reception function 122 Content acquisition request transmission function 123 Content reception function 13 Terminal control part 131 Use area definition selection function 132 Mode selection function 14 Display part 15 Input part 16 Storage Part 2 Area management server 21 Communication part 211 Area definition transmission function 212 Content distribution function 22 Area definition part 23 Area management server control part 231 Area definition acquisition function 24 Display part 25 Input part 3 Content provider database 31 Area corresponding content storage area 4 Content server 41 WWW server 42 Content server control unit 43 Display unit 44 Input unit 45 Content

Claims (9)

In the area management server that provides content according to the area,
Area definition means for storing an area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined;
An area for storing content information to be provided to the portable communication terminal located in the area defined by the area information in association with each area information included in the area definition file stored in the area definition means Corresponding content storage means;
An area definition acquisition unit that acquires the corresponding area definition file from the area definition unit when the acquisition request data of the area definition file is received from a portable communication terminal;
Area definition transmission means for transmitting the area definition file acquired by the area definition file acquisition means to the portable communication terminal;
When the portable communication terminal is located in an area defined by the area information included in the area definition file transmitted by the area definition transmission unit, the area corresponds to the area acquired from the area corresponding content storage unit. An area management server comprising: content distribution means for distributing content information to be distributed to the portable communication terminal.   The area management server according to claim 1, wherein the area information includes information indicating a shape of the area, a size of the area, and a position of the area on the earth. The area management server according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the area is at least one of a circle, a triangle, a quadrangle, an ellipse, a wedge, and a polygon. The area definition file is associated with classification information indicating the classification of the area definition file,
The acquisition request data received from the portable communication terminal includes the classification information,
The area definition acquisition means
The area management server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an area definition file associated with classification information included in the acquisition request data is acquired from the area definition unit. The classification information includes
Information representing the purpose of using the content associated with the area definition file;
Information representing a service provider providing the area definition file;
Information indicating the facility name associated with the area defined in the area definition file;
Information representing the area name that encompasses the area defined in the area definition file;
The area management server according to claim 4, wherein at least one of information indicating a group to which a user who uses content associated with the area definition file belongs is included. In portable communication terminals that receive content distribution services according to area,
An area definition receiving means for downloading an area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined;
Of the area definition files downloaded by the area definition receiving means, use area definition selecting means for selecting an area definition file to be used;
When the own terminal is located in the area defined by the area information included in the area definition file selected by the used area definition selecting means, the content acquisition request corresponding to the area information included in the area definition file is acquired. A portable communication terminal comprising: content receiving means for receiving corresponding content information by transmitting data. A manual mode in which the area definition file is downloaded in response to an external input;
The apparatus further comprises mode selection means for selecting at least one of an automatic mode for downloading an area definition file in which an area including the position information is defined in accordance with a change in position information of the terminal itself. Item 7. A portable communication terminal according to Item 6. In a content distribution method for distributing content according to an area where a portable communication terminal is located,
An area management server includes an area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined, classification information indicating a classification of the area definition file, and portable communication located in each of the areas An area definition step for storing content information to be distributed to the terminal in association with each other;
When the area management server receives the acquisition request data for the area definition file associated with the classification information from the portable communication terminal, from among the plurality of area definition files stored in the area definition step An area definition file transmission step for transmitting the acquired area definition file associated with the classification information to the portable communication terminal;
Corresponds to the area information included in the area definition file when the portable communication terminal is located in the area defined by the area information included in the area definition file transmitted in the area definition file transmission step. A content acquisition request transmission step of transmitting content acquisition request data to be transmitted;
When the area management server receives the content acquisition request data transmitted in the content acquisition request transmission step, the corresponding content information acquired from the information on the plurality of contents stored in the area definition step A content delivery method comprising: delivering content to the portable communication terminal. In a content distribution system for distributing content according to the area where the portable communication terminal is located,
The area management server
It should be delivered to an area definition file including a plurality of area information in which areas of various shapes and sizes are defined, classification information indicating the classification of the area definition file, and portable communication terminals located in each of the areas Area defining means for storing content information in association with each other;
The classification information acquired from the area definition file stored by the area definition means when the acquisition request data of the area definition file associated with the classification information is received from the portable communication terminal; Area definition transmitting means for transmitting the associated area definition file to the portable communication terminal;
Receive content acquisition request data corresponding to the area information included in the area definition file from the portable communication terminal located in the area defined by the area information included in the area definition file transmitted by the area definition transmission means. A content distribution unit that distributes the corresponding content information acquired from the plurality of content information stored by the area definition unit to the portable communication terminal,
The portable communication terminal is
Area definition receiving means for downloading an area definition file associated with the classification information;
When the terminal is located in an area defined by the area information included in the area definition file received by the area definition receiving means, a content acquisition request corresponding to the area information included in the area definition file is obtained. A content distribution system comprising: content receiving means for receiving corresponding content information by transmitting data.

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